Cat Fosterer's Disturbing 'Blanked Out' Defence After Fatal Attack on Pet
A depraved animal fosterer has been sentenced after killing a cat within just twenty-four hours of taking it into her care, offering police the chilling explanation that she had "blanked out" during the brutal assault. Chloe Stanley, also known as McNally, aged twenty-two from North Shields, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where the horrifying details of her crime were laid bare.
A Desperate Plea for Help Ends in Tragedy
The court heard how the cat, named Ash, came into Stanley's care after its previous owner pleaded for assistance. The former owner had been struggling with Ash's behaviour and, upon contacting a charity, was advised that euthanasia might be the only option. Instead, she turned to Stanley, who described herself as an animal behaviourist, after finding her profile on the Pets for Homes website.
Prosecutor Kate Barnes detailed the immediate red flags. "She found the defendant's behaviour towards Ash concerning – she was hissing, shaking a bottle of rice at the cat and stamping on the floor. Ash was distressed," Miss Barnes stated. Despite concerns from the owner and her mother-in-law, Stanley insisted on taking Ash away on November 30, 2024.
The Gruesome Discovery and Pathetic Excuse
Tragically, Ash was dead by December 2. When police were called to Stanley's home on December 5 following concerns, she offered a pathetic justification for her actions. "The defendant replied with words to the effect of 'yes, it was attacking the other cats that I’ve got and she was aggressive towards me, I blanked out and I didn’t realise what I was actually doing... my anger kept building up and I didn’t realise what I was actually doing and it came to the point where it stopped breathing'," Miss Barnes told the court.
The former owner's suspicions were raised when Stanley sent unsettling videos and photographs, including one of Ash in a dog crate. Another image the following morning led her to believe Ash was deceased, which Stanley confirmed, falsely claiming she had taken the body to Ayres Vets.
Post-Mortem Reveals Extreme Suffering
A veterinary post-mortem examination revealed Ash was in good condition prior to the attack but suffered horrific injuries. Findings included significant bruising and bleeding around the chin, left facial area, and left eye, with blood present in the nostrils, trachea, bronchi, and lungs. Bleeding was also noted around the heart.
Miss Barnes explained the medical conclusions: "There were signs of blunt trauma, consistent with the owner’s report of a physical attack. The doctor notes that the owner’s verbal description indicated an intention to cause harm and concluded that the cat suffered in extreme intensity until losing consciousness and the suffering was avoidable." Stanley later admitted to using a dog slip lead during the killing.
Sentencing and Judicial Condemnation
Chloe Stanley pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. She was sentenced to ten months imprisonment, suspended for two years, and handed a ten-year ban on keeping any animals. Judge Stephen Earl delivered a scathing rebuke from the bench.
"Clearly this is a serious matter. Within 24 hours, Ash had died at your hands. That's not unfortunate, that's appalling, frankly, that you would allow yourself to act in such a way against a defenceless animal," Judge Earl stated. He added, "How Ash died is somewhat of a mystery, it's believed to be blunt force trauma or choking or a combination of both. Significant force must have been used to cause the suffering which caused the death. You fell far short of the standard expected in a civilised society."
In mitigation, defence barrister Jane Foley argued that Stanley is immature, suffers from mental health problems, has endured a difficult life, and requires substantial help and support moving forward. The case has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised serious questions about pet fostering safeguards.
